$25M to support the soon-to-be established Youth Advisory Council

– composition to reflect country’s diversity

The soon-to-be established Youth Advisory Council will reflect the country’s rich diversity.

$25Million has been allocated in Budget 2020 to support the effective functioning of the council, which Minister of Public Works, Hon. Bishop Juan Edghill explained is to ensure youth involvement in policy-making decisions.

“Between 2015 and 2020, the involvement of youth in policy-making was non-existent at the Cabinet, Parliamentary and Local Government levels,” the Minister explained. He was at the time presenting the National 2020 Budget, on Wednesday, at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).

With this in mind, a decision was taken to create an avenue where young people are and will continue to engage in the country’s policy-making as demonstrated by the Government, according to the Minister.

The Public Works Minister observed that “by the very composition of the Parliamentary members on this side (Government), that youths are being engaged, and will continually be engaged in the policy making of our country.”

The Youth Advisory Council initiative, which is a PPP/C Manifestor promise and which was reiterated by His Excellency, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali during his inauguration ceremony, promises to allow young people the opportunity to help shape their future.

President Ali explained that over the next five years, the Government aims to build the ladder on which 

“we will climb together, as a nation, to that mountain top – in unity and with dignity and with pride.” 

“I am conscious that while we are building our nation to give a better life to our current generation, we are also laying foundations for future generations,” he added.